The results are out for the Berlinale film festival! Everybody’s talking about the big winner of the Golden Bear award (the equivalent of Oscars Best Picture), Brazil’s Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad). I haven’t seen it myself aside from snippets, but from all accounts it seems like it’s 1) political, 2) about the slums of Rio de Janeiro, and 3) blood-soaked. Now I’ve seen City of God which also has the same three elements, and from that alone I think I’ve seen enough Brazilian blood and gore to last me a lifetime.

However, there are a lot of films in Berlinale that I’d like to see, like the winners of the prestigious Teddy Award, which recognizes some of the best gay and lesbian films. Now in its 22nd year, the Teddy Award has been given to the following works:

Best Feature Film
The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela
by Olaf de Fleur

“For its ability to address race, gender and poverty in an entertaining way, while also playing with audiences expectations of form.”

Again hitting close to home. Queen Raquela is about a transsexual from the Philippines who dreams of being a real queen in Paris. However, all her efforts to achieve this dream are always crushed, from securing a visa to finding her Prince Charming. Until one day, she meets another transsexual on the Internet from Iceland who becomes her friend, and helps her go to Europe to live her true-to-life fairy tale.

Best Documentary Film
Football Under Cover
by David Assmann and Ayat Najafi

“This year’s documentaries overwhelmingly won the hearts of the TEDDY Jury by approaching challenging and thought- provoking subjects in an accessible and effective manner. The most cinematic and gripping of them all subtly and humorously tackles gender-roles in sports in Islamic society.”

The TEDDY Jury Award
Be Like Others
by Tanaz Eshaghian

“An uncompromising and moving portrayal of the shocking reality faced by queer Iranians.”

When Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visited the US last year, someone asked him what he could say about gays in his country. To which he replied, but there are NO homosexuals in Iran. Talk about denial. Be Like Others is an intimate and unflinching look at life in Iran through the eyes of young men choosing to undergo sex change surgery. The film explores the implications and sacrifices of those living on the fringes of Islamic society, the irrevocable nature of their decisions and the relegation to second class women’s status.

Best Short Film
TA
by Felipe Sholl

“a sharp and funny look at a brief encounter between two boys.”

This five minute gem has a simple plot. Two boys in a public bathroom. They smell cocaine, talk about sex, tell stories. But the film gets a twist when they tell each other what really they want. Definitely something to watch out for in YouTube.

Congratulations to all!